Automatic music-sheet-guiding device for self-playing musical instruments.



G. H. DAVIS. AUTOMATIC MUSIC SHEET GUIDING DEVICE FOR SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APFLIUATION FILED JUNE 30, 1909. 1,082,849.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913 2 SHEETSSHEET l gvwenfoz George Howlt ff PGYIS 28N250: i M @M M- G. H, DAVIS. AUTOMATIC MUSIQSHBET GUIDING DEVIGHFOE SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

AI'PLIOATIOI IILBD JUNE 30, 1909.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

w "hF r {Juventoz George Howleff Davis witnmoeo UNITED STATES ZATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE HOWLETT DAVIS, 01 WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC -MUSIG-SHEET-GUIDING DEVICE FOR SELF-PLAYING MFSICAI INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedDe-ce 1913.

Application and June so, 1909. Serial No. 505,201.

,To all whom it may concern:

Music-Sheet-Guiding Devices for Self-Playing Musical Instruments, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

My present invention relates to and has I for its object to provide a new and improved form of automatic music roll guiding device for self-playing musical instruments. Devices for this and similar purposes are new in general use. The majority of them are intricate and expensive and cannot be re lied upon in all conditions of their operation, being extremely liable to get out of order. These devices, over which the present invention is an'iinpi'ove'm'ent, comprise a tracker board which is moved transversely of the moving music sheet by an intricate mechanical mechanism operated through the agency of either pneumatic or electrical means. This mechanism is automatically controlled by the deviation'of the music sheet from its proper position as respects the tracker har loy means of pneumatic valves or electrical contacts adjacent the edge or longitudinal margin of the sheet and located gcneraliy on the tracker bar or board. In the case of the pneumatic control, an aperture communicati means is located atcach end of the tracker with the pneumatic operating bar adjacent the endof the sheet and normally the sheet covers these apertures Upon the deviation of the sheet, to one side of its normal position, the aperture is opened and the mechanism is o erated to move the tracker bar itself un erneath the music sheet so' as to restore the music sheet and tracker bar to theirproper relative positions. Incfl'ect this is a follow-up mechanism, and it will, of course, be obvious that it is necessaril cumbersome and stifi in operation, as wel as hard toadjust. In the case of the electrical control, contacts are located in position similar to the apertures in the tracker bar for the pneumatic control,

and these contacts are normally separated music sheet to one side or the other enables the contacts to come together and close an electrical operating circuit. Other devices there are which instead of moving thet'rac'ker bar bodily move the music sheet by mov ng the spools and take up rolls or by moving the music sheet by shifting a flanged roller over whichthe sheet is caused to pass during its passage over the tracker bar.

present invention obviates entirely all intricate or cumbersome mechanism of the above mentioned types, and provides a simple and practical mechanical mechanism which is light durable and quick acting, and

fwhich ngages both edges of the traveling note sheet and automatically keeps the per forations in perfect alinement with the spec tures of the tracker bar, although the sheets may vary greatly in Width at different points in their length.

To these ends my invention consists of a pair-of guiding members located one at each end of the tracker bar and biased toward each other by means acting on a lever mecha-' nism connecting them together, the mechanism being so constructed that it acts differentially on the moving music sheet. This diiierential action of the lever mechanism is most advantageous in that it greatly quickens the action of the device.-

My invention will be readily understood from the following description and accompanying drawings in which the detail structural advantages are set forth along with the above named features."

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved mechanism shown in connection with the tracker bar of a musical instrument of ordinary construction. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the addition of the ordin'ar form of delivery and take up spools, Fig. 3 is a trans verse, vertical section taken through line AA of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a difi'erent form of'my inventlon from that shown iniFigs. 1, 2 and 3, and Fig. 5 is'a sectional end elevation of the same.

Like numerals apply-tothc same parts in all the illustrations. I p Y My preferred method of carrying, out my invention is to pivotally attach to each side of the tracker bar the two bell crank levers 1,1, the horizontal arms 2,2 of which are pivotally connected at pointfl. These horizontal arms are normallykcpt against the stop 4 by a spring .5. attached" at one end to the levers and atthe cthergendfo anodat each end of the tracker bar I secure guide plates or members 8, 8, which preferably project beyond the sides or" the tracker board in order to provide a considerable length of bearing surface for the edges of the paper. This extended bearing surface prevents undue wear or mutilation of the edges, especially when the paper is rather thin and there is a tendency for it to wrinkle due to the pressure exerted on it by the guide members. 1 prefer to notchthe tracker bar at the point 9, so that the lower edges'of the plates 8, 8, will be below the upper edge of the tracker board. Although i prerer to do this as it avoids accidental slipping of the edge of the paper beneath the guide plate, it is, of course, evident'that itis not absolutely necessary, and there are lnstanccs when a location of the guide plates with their lower edges iiush or even above the edge of the tracker board will be desirable.

The device as described is adjusted with respect to the tracker board with extreme care, so that the inner surfaces of the guide plates 8, S, will be at all times precisely equidistant from the center of the tracker;

bar or from the outer apertures 11, 11. The music sheet, o1 course, is usually of a width such that when its middle point is over the middle point of the tracker bar, the apertures in the tracker bar and the perforations in the sheet register. A variation in these conditions would have to he made, oi course, by a variation in the position of he guide members orplates to the right or left.

12 is the take up roller which is permanently alined with the tracker bar and its apertures so as to draw the paper over the tucker bar in the proper path.

The spools upon which the note sheets are wound and which form the delivery roller when in the instrument vary slightly in their dimensions. Especially do dili'erent makes vary. in order to ascertain whether any one spool is-in alincnicnt with the tracker bar and the take up roller as it should he, I project from one or both of the guide plates 8 8 an arm 13 which bears against the inner of one oi: the flanges 14 of the said spool or delivery rollcr at such time the note sheet is tracking properly, and by spreading the plates away from the edges of the note sheet, or allowing said plates to r. ill

bear upon such edges, the device readily in I dicates whether the delivery spool or roller is in proper alineinent or not. H the arm 13 is made sufliciently still, it will serve to aline the spool or delivery roller. it" is obvious that this arm 13 may projectninto the path of the flange of the takcup roller 12, where of course it will serve to aline the takeup roller. On rewinding the music sheet 17 upon the delivery roller or spool, this arm 13 serves to properly alinc the dclivery roll, so that the music sheetund. the roll will be kept in proper alineinent, so that no matter in which direction the music sheet is traveling, the arm 13 serves to keep the sheet and the rollers, upon which it is wound, in the proper alinement. I

The operation of my device is substantially as follows: The m usic spool is insert-- ed in the bearings l provided for it and the free end 16 of the note sheet 17 secured to the take up roller 2 in the usual way. W hen inopei'ation the note sheet will be drawn taut over the tracker board be tween the guide plates 8, 8, which are forced by theinusic sheet slightly apart, the

width of the sheet being a little greater than the normal distance between, the guide plates. The guide plates then bear dolicately against the adjacent ethics of the pa per. As they are c pressure on each eds-e normally be the same if lh the same width from end to end or docs not deviate from its proper path. over the tracker board, the spring acting on both levers at the same time. As the instru ient is played, the take up roller 12 revolve. in the direction of the arrow 20 causing the note sheet. 1'2" to travel over the tracker board, the commonly used drag or retarding device acting" against the paper or its delivery roller in its forward movement. As long as the paper travels in perfectalinement, then the guide plates 8, 8" hour against itsedges with equal pussurc above stated, but soon as it travels to one side; due to any cause, say to the right side, the guide plate 8' is forced momein tarily a Very slight distance, possibly a sixty-fourth of an inch to the right. At the same time the pressure on lhc u'uidc plate 8 on the left is removed, and hence the entire tension of spring 5 will he c.\:- crted through lever 2, the plate 8 on the right edge of the sheet thus forcingthe sheet back into its proper path where the perforations in the sheet are in aliucmeut with the apertures in the bar. its the plate 8 on the left is at this :nou'icnt tree from the edge of the paper, the latter is easily lo'ccd hack to the left when the plate 8 again act on the edge of the shoot, and each plate will then exert an equal pressure against the respective edges the sheet.

This pressure as has been heretofore men tioned can be adjusted as delicately as desired. In this manner the two guide plates are keptin constant motion. Their effect,- is adifierential one, The release of pressure on the one guide plate causes an increased biasing force to be applied to the other guidemember or plate, and long as the paper is in contact with both plates the greater the deviation toward one of those points, the greater the force tending to re store the sheet to its normal position.- In normal operation the action on the sheet scarcely perceptible as the sheet is in con stant motion over the tracker board and the movement of the guide members is small, the differential action causing a quick correction of slight variations. The levers at the point 3, howeveigican be seen constantly in motion. The springs 6 which are used beneath the horizontal arms oi the levers may be dispensed with 1n some lilStI'ilHlQlltS,

such for instance as those in which the tracker board is vertically or obliquely disposed.

In Figs. st and 5 is shown a different form of my invention. This form is particularly adapted for use in instruments where the note sheetpasses over the tracker boardin a plane disposed substantiallyvertically. In this modification 30 is the-tracker bar. On the upper side of this tracker bar is secured a long bar or strip of metal 31, the ends of the bar being bent down in such a manner that they form feet for the attachment. ofthe strip tothe tracker bar and support the strip so that its surface is in: clined at an angle with the surface of the side of the tracker bar to which it is secured As sl'iown, this inclination is toward the hack of the tracker bar. 2 are pivoted to the strip 31 and carry on their short arms the guide members or plates 32 in a position to engage the edges of the note sheet prior to or just after its passage over the tracker bar, depending upon the direction of movementof the note sheet. The guide members are of a trapezoidal shape and their engagingfsurfaces are of such an extent as to minimize the danger of crinkling the edge of the note sheet. '1 he long end of the levers are con nccted together by a pin and slot connection and 33' respectively. In the normal operation of the device, the weight of the long ends of the levers 2. 2 tends to draw them down the incline of the strip 31, and biases the guide members toward each other in a vmanner entirely similar to that of the first form of my invention described. If necessary to overcome friction or to increase the biasing'force of the guide memhers, I may use a weight 34 attached to the pin 33, as shown. or to one or both o:t the levers 2, 2. Of course, the use otlthis The levers 2" weight depends entirely upon the delicacy of adjustment and the amount of. biasing force desired. The weight of the levers alone will be enough in cases where delicate adjustment is desired and the 'note sheet moves easily over the tracker bar, being itself lightTand not stretched so taut that it bean against the tracker bar with a great pr are. and stretched very taut it may' be desir-- able to-use a weight of such size as will give the result desired.

While I have described the best form of my invention now known to'me, itis'of course obvious that the skilled mechanic- In case the note sheet is heavy may make many modifications in the construction without departing from its generic spirit.- 'In the annexed claims I desire to cover all such modifications.

What I claim is,

1. In combination, a tracker bar and pivoted guide plates adjacent to'each end of said bar, spring niechanism for biasing said plates toward each other and toward the center of said bar, and a connection between said plates for causing the same to move n unison. i

2. In combination a tracker bar, a pair of levers pivoted to the side of the bar, a connection between said levers causing them to move in unison, guide members on said levers adjacent the ends of said bar, and

means biasing the levers-to draw the plates toward each other. i

3. In combination, a tracker bar, guide members adjacent eacll end of the tracker bar, a-lever mechanism on said bar acting on said I? embers, and means acting on the.

mechanism to bias the members toward each other.

4. In combination, a, tracker bar, guide plates adjacent eachend of said bar, a lever mechanism towhich said guide plates are connected, means acting onthe mechanism to bias the plates toward each other,

and means acting on the mechanism in opposition. to said biasing means"! 5. In combination, a tracker bar, means for passing a music sheet over said bar, guide plates adjacent to each end of said bar, spring mechanism for biasing said plates toward each other and for increasing the biasing force exerted upon one plate upon the deviation of the sheet from its proper path.

6. In combination, a tracker bar, means for moving a music sheet over said bar, guide plates adjacent to each end of said bar, said plates having portions extending beyond the sides of saidbar and spring mechanism for biasing. said members toward each other.

7. In combination, a tracker bar, means for moving a note sheet over said bar, guide members for the sheet on said bar, a connecopposite edges of the note sheet when e same is tracking properly on the ends of" ssirl trselier bar, a connection between said members for causing the same to move in unison, and an arm connected to one said members for contaet Wit-h said note sheet roll for determining the a pineineiit hereof.

10. lln eoinbinstion, a treoker bar, means for moving a; note sheet over ssid bar, comprising a tsiheup roll and a, note sheet roll, members in normal engagement with the opposite edges oi the note sheet, when the same is tracking properly on the ends t' snicl trucker bar, s connection between l g'ziicle members for causing the soire to in unison, and an srni connected with said members for Contact with one rolls for determining the alinement ,3 roll.

vsb, of s. tracker-bar, and guiding means,

resilient means normally inive, applied to the sheet or Web adhe traisker-bar when the diverging presses against the guiding means. 2. The combination, with a. traveling or Web, of a tracker-oar, and guiding The combination, with a traveling sheet" diverging sheet'or Web to push orbodi move mama means carried by the tracker-bar, which include resilientmeans normally inoperative, applied to the sheet or web adjacent the tmeher-bar'to push or bodily move the sheet or eb'into normal relation with the tracker-- bar when the diverging sheet presses against the guidin means.

13. The combination, with a traveling sheet or Web, of s trackenbar, and guide fingers connected with resilient means normolly inoperative, applied to the sheet, or web adjacent the tracker-bar to push or bodi'lv move the sheet or web into normal relation with the tracker-bar when the dive 'ging sheet presses against the, guide fingers;

14. The combination, with a traveling sheet or web, of a tracker-bar and guide fingers carried by, and applied to the sheet or Web adjacent to the tracker-bar, and connected with resilient means normally inopemtive, to push or bodily move the sheet or Web into normal position, when the diverging sheet presses against the guide 15. The combination, with a traveling sheet or web, of o tracker-bar, guide fingers carried by, and applied to the sheet or Web adjacent to, the t-rsokerbar, and resilient means normally inoperative connected with the guiole fingers to push or bodily movev the sheet or web into normal relation with the tracker-bar, when the diverging sheet presses against the guide lingers.

16. The combination, with a traveling sheet or web, of e tracker-bar, guide fingers carried by, and applied to the sheet or Web adjacent-to the tracker-bar, and springs nor mally inoperstive attached to the guide fingers to piess the edge of the v the sheet or web back into normal. ie two with the tracker-bar.

in testimony whereof I afiix my signaturein presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE HOWLET'T DAVIS.

Witnesses Tiioims DUNN, W'. Mss'rsns; 

